Articles
Higher efficiency circulators are here to stay
May 16, 2017 John SiegenthalerWet-rotor circulators have been used in millions of residential and light commercial hydronic systems over the last four decades. Many hydronic pros consider them “commodity” components. They are available from a long list of suppliers, most of which provide equivalency…
Radiant cooling: Emerging technology shows promise
May 16, 2017 Rob WatersMost heating professions are very familiar with the principals of radiant floor heating systems and how they work. These systems have become an accepted part of the HVAC offering of many engineers and contractors, as they have proven to offer…
The secret of turning building data into revenue
May 15, 2017 Matt GatesInformation technology advancements are bringing about a product revolution with smart, connected products that are more available and affordable than ever before. Near ubiquitous wireless connectivity, coupled with improvements in processing power and device miniaturization, have resulted in a wave…
A lesson in sustainability
May 12, 2017 Shawn SinnieClass is back in session and the teachers have a little more help this year. The renovated Steinbach Regional Secondary School in Steinbach, MB, is assisting the faculty with a great lesson for the students on the environment and the…
Mechanical contractor pays it forward
May 11, 2017 by Kerry TurnerMechanical contractor Patrick Waunch, who is president and CEO of Rambow Mechanical in Kelowna, BC, is the recipient of the Canadian Construction Association’s 2016 CCA Trade Contractors Award. The association cited Waunch’s “infectious enthusiasm and dedication to the growth…
The case for stainless steel water heater tanks
March 21, 2017 Robert WatersDespite the higher price tag, stainless steel water heater tanks are often more cost effective when lifecycle costs are compared and should be presented as such. Domestic water heating appliances are the real foot soldiers of the mechanical world. They…
Delivering on the promise of renewable energy
March 21, 2017 Ian McTeerUtilizing the heat migrating up from earth’s 6100C inner core to produce electricity (geothermal energy) and to help comfort condition buildings year-round (geothermal HVAC) seems like a logical choice. The question is why aren’t we doing more of it? The…
Simple and sophisticated hydronic systems
March 21, 2017 John SiegenthalerAs the North American hydronics industry has grown, so has the complexity of its systems. Many installations that are now featured as award winning examples of hydronic heating contain thousands of parts and pieces. They can be so complex that…
Grease management: Pitfalls to avoid
March 20, 2017 Andrew BirdAs unpleasant and challenging to work with as they are, grease interceptors are a necessary and vital part of the plumbing system for commercial, industrial and institutional applications. The professional contractor has a number of roles to play in this…
What to consider when expanding your business
March 20, 2017 Hank BulmashGrowing your business by expanding to another province is a big step and the process can be complicated. Before beginning operations in a second province you have to determine if your company is legally able to do business there. Federally…
Hydronic controls: A look ahead
March 19, 2017 Mike MillerWhen I started my career some 25 years ago hydronic controls were pretty rudimentary. At best, they could control what they were designed for, but they were pretty much standalone. There were little application controllers and were often only good…
Introduction to refrigeration defrost methods-Part II
March 19, 2017 Dave DemmaRefrigeration systems operating with saturated suction temperatures below freezing will eventually experience an accumulation of frost on the evaporator tubes and fins. The frost serves as an insulator between the heat to be transferred from the space and the refrigerant,…
New codes, regulations and policies change landscape for mechanical industry
February 17, 2017 Robert WatersThe HVAC and plumbing industry in Canada is in for some profound changes with the coming wave of new building codes, policies and regulations. All levels of government–federal, provincial and municipal–are pushing hard to go green and reduce the impact…
Important updates to CSA B214 Installation Code for Hydronic Heating Systems
February 16, 2017 Lance MacNevinIt is well known in industry circles that when designed and installed correctly, hydronic heating and cooling systems deliver the highest possible efficiency and comfort to building occupants. Likewise, hydronic snow and ice melting systems provide safety, convenience and access…
Piping layouts to avoid in hydronic systems
February 15, 2017 John SiegenthalerEinstein’s definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. If that is true, there are some “insane” hydronic system designers in North America. They repeatedly cling to certain system piping configurations, even though…
How do you say quality is in the air?
February 15, 2017 Ian McTeerContractors and technicians find themselves on the front line trying to help occupants obtain the benefits of cleaner air. The American philosopher, naturalist and historian, Henry David Thoreau, best known for his 1854 book, Walden, wrote, “What is the use…
More pointers for commercial pumps
February 14, 2017 Mike MillerIn HPAC’s December 2016 issue the article Troubleshooting Pointers for Commercial Pumps discussed some of the more common but simple reasons for pump issues that may be resolved without major work. This article serves as a continuation of that discussion…
How water behaves in hydronic systems
February 13, 2017 Mark OlsonDesigners of modern hydronic systems strive for two important objectives: a reliable system and an energy efficient system. Achieving these requires proper equipment selection as well as attention to water quality. Unfortunately the latter is often overlooked, or left to…
Introduction to refrigeration defrost methods — Part I
February 10, 2017 Dave Demma and Bob SchindlerIt is inevitable that refrigeration systems operating with saturated suction temperatures below freezing will eventually experience an accumulation of frost on the evaporator tubes and fins. The frost serves as an insulator between the heat to be transferred from the…
Get HVAC systems off to a good start
December 21, 2016 Ian McTeerWhether it is a Canadian general election or a U.S. presidential contest, there always seems to be one candidate will promise to stimulate the economy by cutting taxes, relaxing regulations, eliminating red tape, and reducing the size of government. This…
We need thermal storage tanks with lower standby loss
December 19, 2016 John SiegenthalerThermal storage tanks play an important role in several types of hydronic heating and cooling systems. This is especially true of systems with renewable energy heat sources such as solar thermal collectors, heat pumps, or biomass boilers. The most common…
Troubleshooting pointers for commercial pumps
December 18, 2016 Mike MillerWhen troubleshooting commercial pumps it is always important to note the type of symptoms, the point at which the symptoms began and the time period over which the symptoms developed. In particular, consider whether something changed in the system prior…
The effect of heating coil performance on boiler efficiency and system complexity
December 17, 2016 Robert BeanLately I have been noticing during reviews that designers are selecting fan/coils without regard to system efficiency and control simplicity. A few extra minutes of evaluation can add several efficiency points while eliminating the need for mixing strategies. Let’s start…
In it for the long haul
December 16, 2016 Doug PicklykA Canadian has landed in the Guinness World Records as the oldest actively employed plumber, and at 92 years old, Lorne Figley of Saskatoon, SK has no intention of laying down his wrench any time soon. It was Figley’s daughter,…
Common causes of refrigerant leaks and how to fix them
December 15, 2016 Dave DemmaI met with a supermarket chain recently and the subject of refrigerant leaks came up. This is not surprising given the fact that R22 prices continue to escalate as the supply continues to shrink. I asked the director of facilities…
Beyond the furnace tune-up
October 26, 2016 Ian McTeerA furnace tune-up is really a comprehensive maintenance job. Contractors know that it is essential to maintain a long-term relationship with every customer by providing timely preventive maintenance (PM) at least once per year. It is better to work with…
Changing flow direction for optimal heat exchanger performance
October 26, 2016 John SiegenthalerMany systems with renewable energy heat sources also have large thermal storage tanks. Examples include systems using biomass boilers and solar thermal collectors. I call these heat sources “wild” since they can operate over a wide range of conditions and…
How to size refrigeration correctly for the box and application
October 26, 2016 Dave DemmaThe key to a properly operating walk-in box system starts with a good design and the basis of a good design is to accurately determine what the refrigeration heat load is. To do this one has to realize that heat…
Technology exists to move Canada closer to the European average water usage, the only obstacle is ourselves
October 26, 2016 Steve Goldie“Water, water, every where, And all the boards did shrink; Water, water, every where, Nor any drop to drink.” It has been 40 years since I first read these words in my high school English class and for some reason…
Show Preview: Construct Canada 2016
October 26, 2016 Doug PicklykThe 28th annual Construct Canada show, the country’s largest building, design and construction event, will run Wednesday, November 30 through Friday, December 2 in downtown Toronto at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, located at the base of the CN Tower.…